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There have been two constants for the UTEP football team in the second half of a season that still is alive.

The Miners continue to have injury after injury, and they continue to fight.

In the aftermath of a 24-21 victory against Rice, as they prepare for a trip to Old Dominion that could put them on the cusp of bowl eligibility, the Miners lost their best special teams player, LaQuintus Dowell, and could be without one of Saturday's heroes, tailback Jeremiah Laufasa.

Dowell tore his patella tendon, which ends his UTEP career, while Laufasa is battling knee issues that came up again on the final drive against Rice when he carried seven times.

"Disheartening," was the word coach Sean Kugler used, then he went on to extol the heart they are showing anyway.

"We're down to our third right guard, our second right tackle, our fourth tailback," Kugler said. "Last year I learned a lot about our leadership, that the more their backs were against the wall the harder they fight. I'm finding the same thing about this year's team.

"I'm finding out about this team's leadership, this team's character like I did last year."

That meant even more to Kugler coming against Rice.

"That's a team we're trying to catch," he said. "That's a team that's been to several straight bowl games. That's a team we're trying to pattern ourselves after. They are disciplined, smart, they are class. After LA Dowell got hurt they all came up and gave him words of encouragement.

"That's what I want our program to be. To beat a team like that, it's rewarding. ... Hell yeah it's rewarding."

As for the immediate future, UTEP's getting to the end of its depth at tailback. Kugler revealed he is going to burn the redshirt of freshman walk-on T.K. Powell and move Kavika Johnson, who hasn't played the last three games, to tailback along with Warren Redix.

Powell "has been a pleasant surprise since camp," Kugler said. "I said I wasn't going to use him unless it was an emergency and guess what? We're in an emergency. ... If he can help us win games he's going to be out there."

As for Redix, who had six carries against Rice, he "has given us some juice, he's going to continue to get carries," Kugler said. "I like what he brings to the table as a running back, as a receiver, as a football player."

Defensively, however, UTEP is getting healthier and is starting to string good games together.

"What stood out to me was the linebacker production," Kugler said. "They had more than 20 tackles combined, that's the first time we had that. Alvin Jones was everywhere, but that's every game. When you get great linebacker production in our 4-2-5 defense you're going to have success."

One of the challenges this week is trying to win in Norfolk, Va. UTEP hasn't won away from home this year other than next door at New Mexico State, they are 1-9 in Conference USA road games under Kugler and they are 0-19-1 all-time in the Eastern time zone.

"It's always tough to play on the road, especially when you play in a different time zone," Kugler said. "When I was in the NFL, a West coast team, they're playing at 10:30 (a.m.) their time.
"We'll try to freshen up their legs a little bit at practice."

The stakes couldn't be bigger. The loser in this game between 4-5 teams isn't mathematically eliminated from bowl contention but realistically is, while the winner will be favored to make a bowl.
"They are in the same boat we are in," Kugler said. "We need to gain head-to-head with them. We are both battling for the same bowl position."

One of them will be in position to salvage a season that once looked beyond repair.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at 546-6151; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @bretbloomquist on Twitter.